Monthly Archives: October 2012

Emily writes from the Turnberry Lodge in Oudtshoorn… Just a week ago I was sitting in this very spot with a spinning head and sinusitis frantically typing up an assignment. I knew what it meant to be starting a mountain … Continue reading →

It’s quite simple really. The basics. Screw up on the basics an you can expect the consequences. The basics of bike riding: You can only go X hard for Y long After X times Y you will run out of … Continue reading →

Emily crosses the Kamanassie… The cape pioneer trek has so far reached many new extremes for me. Extreme awesomeness, extreme pain and then there’s just extremeness… The part when my processing power falls below that of a dying birthday card … Continue reading →

The trail through the Kamanassie mountains has to be seen to be believed. We headed out for todays short 65km stage, leaving de Rust on a trail that becomes progressively more primitive – starting out as a narrow gravel road, … Continue reading →

We made friends with Dr Hyde during today’s stage and things were going along swimmingly (more about that later). But at about 95km Dr Jekyll made his guest appearance and shattered our best performance yet. First the good news. Emily … Continue reading →

I had begun to feel rather despondent with the often asked, “So are you a father and daughter team”. Not that I wouldn’t be proud to ride with a daughter of mine, or, more specifically, Emily if she was. But … Continue reading →

Horrific news at the end of today’s stage. Apparently about 30 riders were attacked by swarms of bees that were probably disturbed by the helicopter. Most received multiple stings but a few riders were stung hundreds of times. The Doc … Continue reading →

Sunday started off lazily – our start time for the prolog was after lunch. Luxury! Here we are outside the Turnberry lodge in Oudtshoorn. Onto the rivet! As usual, the maxim of start off slow and get slower is often … Continue reading →

I could have sworn I had a cat in the car this morning as I headed towards Oudtshoorn. The 2012 edition of the Cape Pioneer Trek lay ahead – what promises to be another awesome event and sees me returning … Continue reading →